Breast pump recommendations

[HelenF35]

Hi all,

Looking for some breast pump advice. Want to start expressing when I get to 6 weeks. What kind of pump is best? Manual? Electric? I have no idea what I am looking for so any help would be much appreciated!

[TwoLittleBlooms]

Hi Helen I would say it really depends on how many bottles/feeds you are planning to express. I have an Ameda electric double pump (and currently a Medela Symphony on hire which in my opinion is brilliant) but I have had to express most of my baby's feeds for the last 6 months, it is a very good pump. If it is just for the occasional bottle/feed then a manual would be fine, I also have a Phillips Avent manual which is really good (although sometimes can be a little squeaky for some reason) and a Tommee Tippee which I used at the start but found the length of the flange was too short for me when using it and ended up with sore, damaged nipples.

[Kent1982]

Hello

I don't have a great deal of experience, I started expressing at about 8 weeks just so I could leave LO for short periods of time like going to hair dressers or to have a little bottle in case he was hungry when out.

I first had the boots manual one which I got to grips with quite well and liked I built a little stash of milk for the freezer. It does make your hand hurt a bit the squeezing of it. Over all it did the job for what I wanted.

I then melted it in the microwave steriliser eeeeeek

I then bought. Tommy tipee mNual pump, this was more expensive than the boots one and I just can't get on with it it's a bit flimsy and I just can't get the milk I could with the boots one. So I've given up for a few weeks now.

I haven't tried an electric one but from What I hear they save you lots of time on manual I don't think I needed electric as I was only using as a back up so I wouldn't have got the use out of it

[dairyfreequeen]

i had a tommee tippee manual, and gave up on it, i was only getting 1 or 2 oz at a time and it took ages. i got an electric phillips avent which is good, more comfortable than the medela swing i tried BUT last time i was in babies r us (last week) they had electric lansinoh ones on half price, so maybe have a look? it might be online too, i dont know

[HeyMicky]

I bought a Spectra. It's not as well known a brand as some others but it's excellent, have had much better results than with the Avent I used for DD1. Very quiet too

[Teeste]

I've been using a Lansinoh single electric for the past 2 weeks as my DS won't bf (he's mix fed). It's currently on sale for £66 at [http://www.mothercare.com/Lansinoh-Single-Electric-Breast-Pump/604999,default,pd.html#q=lansinoh%20pump Mothercare], which is a bit of a bargain. Works just as well as the hospital Medela one I used IMO. But if you're planning on expressing a lot, I'd go for a double pump to save time - wish I had!

[Teeste]

Link fail! I blame the sleep deprivation! Mothercare link

[applecore0317]

I use a mini medela electric pump, really happy with it and can express 5oz in less than ten mins using it

[TheGirlAtTheRockShow]

I have a medals freestyle, it's great but very expensive! I had to pump to establish supply though as DD was Orem and in NICU.
For occasional expressing a single electric or a manual would be sufficient. I do recommend Medea, I know a few mums who have got on well with them as a brand.

[Roseybee10]

I had a medela swing which was great.